Five stars for the actual displays, indoor exhibits, and overall holiday cheer. Minus one star for operations. This was my second time going to Zoolights. Last year it was extremely cold and snowing so it was busy but manageable. Our Uber wasn't able to get to the entrance so we had to make a bit of a hike from Stockton to the back side of the zoo near the ferris wheel. This year we had to walk from LaSalle because things were backed up down LSD and it would have probably been a literal half hour or more to get near the entrance. If it is even remotely nice (it was low 40s and dry), prepare to have a horrendous time getting there. On the snowy night it was a pleasant walk around the grounds and we were able to take it all in from the big choreographed light display in the center of the zoo to the animal houses. Being able to get up so close to the lion was really, really cool and unlike any other zoo I've been to. This year it was wall-to-wall crowds indoors and out. You had to fight to get anywhere near the glass and the buildings were about a million degrees due to the masses. One of my main issues this year was the bathroom situation. Most of the bathrooms in the zoo are in the basements of the buildings, and lines wrapped up the stairs and out the door at every restroom I could find. Eventually we stumbled upon a couple of port-a-potties, and the lines for that were 10+ deep as well. I couldn't wait any longer so I went through the line, but the john I got was one of the grossest I've ever encountered due to a lack of lighting. Glad I brought my phone in otherwise I would have sat in a puddle. For comparison, it was about five times worse than any music festival I've been to in the last ten years where people drink all day long. All in all it's pretty magical, but you should probably avoid weekends and nice nights for maximum enjoyment. read more

I have a love hate relationship with the Zoo Lights. Love the idea of the zoo lights. Feel completely overwhelmed by the throngs and throngs of folks who go. Granted, it's my fault we went on a weekend. If we lived downtown, I would go during the week. Instead we strolled (sometimes just stood waiting for someone ahead to move ... please anyone just move!) and enjoyed the sites. We soaked in what we liked. Tried to dismiss the craziness and enjoy. But it'll be another 5 or so years before I find myself back at the Zoo Lights thinking -- oh yeah. This is why I haven't been back yet. read more

Oh, god...locals, stay away. It's free for the "We The People" crowds that make this one of the thickest and near-chaotic crowds in Chicago. You have to go once just to see what a mess of humanity this is. I get the feeling this is more a benefit for the pile-into-a-van-and-go-into-the-big-city-once-a-year people. Yes, it's cute you brought your double-wide stroller. Sure, bring your three tipsy uncles including that one who brought his own reindeer hat. The lights are fun to see, but any sense of decorum is lost by the fifth time someone bumps into your ankle with their stroller. Tips: Leave the car at home. No, seriously. Leave it at home because you're not going to find parking on a side street, no matter how well you think you can find parking. You won't. You can Uber & Lyft to the Zoo's entrance, but don't bother trying to arrange one to pick you up in front of the zoo's entrance. There are usually hundreds, if not a thousand or so people cramming the entrance on Cannon Drive. Walk a couple long blocks to Clark Street and arrange a pickup there. The Zoo's Cafe is grossly overpriced and all junk food. If you don't mind walking two blocks west to Clark & a few blocks north, there are good eating options--bars, fast food, fine dining, etc. Visit the zoo during the day to walk around and be able to freely go into buildings because once Zoolights starts in the evenings, you won't be able to see much. read more

A zoo filled with Xmas lights and Singing porta potties otherwise known as Jingle John what more can you ask for. Also no cover!! It seems like every year they have more lights put up and since it's the zoo you can also see some animals indoor. A help when the weather is especially cold. Highly recommend you visit this place BUT be prepared to struggle for street parking. So why 4 and not 5 stars. That's because in the past the main draw by the park pavilion had dancing lights time to music was much better. It simply bedazzled it felt magical. Now it's just nice. Granted if you've never seen it before it's fine problem is I have. I apologize for beginning to sound like a jaded Chicagoan. read more

Overall, it was a nice experience. I love that it is free too. The zoo is covered in lights throughout and there is a small light show to christmas songs every few minutes. You can also see santa, ride a train, ride the ferris wheel, or go on the merygoround. I went on the weekend so it was quite packed with families and young kids running around. Throughout the zoo you could purchase hot drinks and very over priced beer. I was expecting to see more animals as we didn't go too late at night and to even hear some more music. The place was also quite confusing and hard to find our way out of there. It is still a nice experience to do especially if you have a family just be sure to bundle up. read more

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Wasn't worth the money we paid for the parking and the entry ticket. We saw a total of 3 animals. The chimps and gorillas (which were all asleep) a porcupine, and some snakes. That's it. The lights were mediocre. Wasn't worth the 45 minute drive into Chicago. read more

Fun family event that is free in Chicago. Went Saturday night of the last weekend. Busy yet not overly crowded. Temperature was in the mid 40s, so no snow on the ground, which I am sure would make the displays even more spectacular. Ice carving demonstration was captivating. Terrific spot for our out-of-town guests to experience another of the many marvels of Chicago. read more

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One of the best seasonal, FREE holiday attractions to see in Chicago! It's open for quite a long time, for much of December and January. The animals are transported somewhere else due to the bitter cold, but there are some nocturnal animals who might peek their head out. The lights are phenomenal. The only other lights that you can walk through and explore are a global touring light show I believe called Winter Wonderland, but others are drive-bys and not things you can get up close and personal with. I appreciate how there are pit stops like the gift shop, cafe (they closed at 8pm when we went on a weekday), and restrooms that were heated so we could get some warmth before we would power walk to the next exhibit. Dress warmly (it was about 5F when we went), and you can park for free on the street about a block from the zoo entrance. Hot chocolate is around $5 at the cafe. It was just a nice evening to stroll with the bf carrying some hot chocolate and looking at the lights. There are some lights that are animated with music in the background. The gift shop has 3D glasses that have different holiday characters that show around any lights. read more

Zoolights - Ice sculptures - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I like the concept of this -- adorn the zoo with Holiday lights. It's really a different way of checking out Lincoln Park Zoo. I've been born-and-raised in Chicago and always wanted to check out Zoolights for several years now. I didn't know what to expect. Were they going to string lights around the giraffes' necks and adorn garland around the trunks of elephants? The answer is "no". In fact, there are no animals at all. Which, during a Chicago winter, who can blame em? I don't want to even be outside on more layers of clothes than the flavors of Baskin Robbins, so I would hate to see naked animals outside in the cold either. Overall, check out Zoolights if you want to see Lincoln Park Zoo in a different light (see what I just did there?) But definitely try to take public transportation, because getting there any other way is such a PITA. Now I remember why I've only been to this zoo four-times in my life; all four-times being in an elementary school field trip. Pro-tip though: use SportHero and go for the parking garage ~0.3miles from the park on Webster. After going 2-blocks in 15-minutes, and cursing the parking and traffic gods, I was more than willing to even shell-out the full price of $30 (as of 2017... who knows what it'll be in the future?), but I couldn't even get to the damn parking lot since the traffic was terrible. Other than that, I found the event A-OK. The lights were pretty cool, the weather was frigid cold. There was so many people attending, and if you're not big on crowds, stay away. Personally, a hater of crowds, I don't find Zoolights to be worth the pain and torture of 5-people taking up the walking paths nor 10-min long lines waiting for the bathrooms. But yeah, if you want to see some cool holiday lights, check it out, but be warned! BATHROOM REVIEW: Super crowded and dirty. There was plenty of urinals and several stalls, but the wait time was still long. I would be too paranoid to use a stall. Sit or squat? Run. read more

This FREE event that happens every year deserves its own entry. If you are looking for a fun family friendly activity for all ages, this would be it. Not only is FREE, it absolutely gets you into the holiday spirit. I checked out the lights the day after Thanksgiving this year & it really got my Christmas Cheer on and I am thankful for that. Are you looking for something to lift you up in this season? Why not check out Zoo Lights? You can wander around, check out the festive lights, snack on some popcorn, look at some animals (only portions of the zoo are open for this not the entire thing), and also see some ice carving. It is a grand ole time. Whether you have family in town, want to take your own kids (heck borrow some if you are looking for an excuse to go), go with friends, or just go alone, this is something worth wandering out for. The LPZ, Comed, and Charter Bank really put on quite the lights spectacular for Chicagoans & visitors. It is open during the holiday season from 5pm-9pm (check website for exact dates). I recommend public transportation, unless you wish to get frustrated trying to find parking or else pay the $15 to park at the zoo (still worth it!). read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So you pay to enter the park then they ask you to pay extra to enter certain light exhibits? It felt like a carnival.... how you pay per ride. Plus there were zero exit signs anywhere it's 23° guys put some exit signs around the park! Thank God I didn't have freezing grumpy children with me. We were going around in circles like an IKEA! Three stars are because the seals were out playing and the bathrooms were incredibly clean! read more

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Zoolights and WOW, they have really done it up to mark the occasion!!! I've been to Zoolights every year since the beginning and this year is by far the largest display LPZ has ever set up. The huge light display begins at the main entrance (Webster St) and goes directly East to the zoo's parking lot entrance. The light display then continues South after the lion house all the way to Cafe Brauer/Nature Boardwalk where you'll find the light tunnel. The grassy picnic area immediately to the South of the zoo's cafeteria houses a huge light display that is choreographed to Holiday music and is a great spot to take pics or enjoy a beverage. There are also about six huge snow globes containing Holiday scenes on the South end of this display. Admission to Zoolights is FREE....yes, FREE, but the hot chocolate, cider and beer are pretty costly especially if you are "having a few." My suggestion would be to visit one of the many local bars along Clark St beforehand to get your "Holiday buzz" going. Another suggestion would be to take the CTA or a cab because the only parking option is the zoo's lot which is pricey and often full during busy nights. Happy Holidays 2014 and check out Zoolights this year!!! Here's a couple of helpful links: www.lpzoo.org/events/calendar/zoolights http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141128/lincoln-park/zoolights-ultimate-guide Cheers!!!! read more

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This was my first time going to Zoolights and with the weather being absolutely gorgeous it was such a good time. I would suggest getting there an hour or so early for those driving to take advantage of the free parking surrounding the zoo. At this free event the zoo is surrounded in beautiful lights with music played in the background to bring about a spectacular light show. In addition to the zoolights there's an ice skating rink, snacks for purchase, and a beautiful skyline. Very good place to take the kids and I would even say it would be a perfect inexpensive date night. Definitely something to experience at least once. read more

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Ah, Chicago in the winter time. It is tough to beat the Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo. How lucky are we in the Chicagoland area to have a free zoo around. Not to mention they spruce it up for the holidays. My husband and I have gone for years. This year it was better than ever. More animals were out for viewing and all areas of the zoo were open. There is holiday music to put some bounce in your step throughout the whole park. There is one area that has lights coordinated to the music. All areas of the park has lights. If you get cold you can duck into any of the animal "houses" and say hi to friends in the animal kingdom. You could also warm up with some hot coco or adult beverage at the many concession stands. At the main entrance there is always ice carving in action. Such a talent. The parking available is mostly paid, but sometimes you can get a street spot for free. There are lots of people and families there to enjoy to sites and fun! Highly recommended. Looking forward to next year! If you are looking for tasteful, peaceful holiday event, then look somewhere else. read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While I have enjoyed many a Zoolights in the past, this review is specific to my recent experience at Zoolights "Brewlights".... or as we've called it, the festival of lines! We purchased early bird tickets for $35 a pop -- that was supposed to get us 12 4oz samples of beers. Below you'll understand why that only got us 4 of those samples and left us quite angry for more. The gates opened at 5:00 PM, but even if you were able to get there from work so early, you couldn't get a beer until 5:30 PM.... but wait! Even to get IN THE GATE with a ticket, it took nearly 40 minutes waiting outside. Once inside you got in line for a beer with your little plastic cup. 20-30 minutes later when you reach the front of the line, you get your beer sample. If you wanted to get another sample, you had to get back in line immediately to wait again to try to get 2 samples in an hour! If you wanted to be warm, you had to go inside the lion house that was crowded with 1,000 other cold people. Oh, and btw, there were no (none, zip, zero, zilch) animals to see! Further worse than the lines was the set up. They had set up on both ends of the lion house, so you couldn't get in or out easily. By the end of the night, even the bathrooms were broken and we were told we couldn't use them and sent someplace else. Oh, and it was COLD.... The one good part was free rides on the carousel. One star for riding on the panda, one star for the idea of the carousel being free. They stopped pouring at 8:30 PM even though the fest was supposed to go to 9:00 PM. They had many full kegs that went to waste! read more

Welcome to my favorite place in Chicago! I love the LP zoo! It's free entry (you have to pay to park. But come on we live in Chicago, take the bus or walk). It's not the holidays if you don't visit the zoo lights. The sights, the sounds, the animals, the food! Don't go opening night- too crowded. Go during the week day. You can roam and enjoy yourself without bumping into a huge crowd of people. Visit right before the zoo officially closed so that you can see the animals and then enjoy the lights right after. Grab some hot cocoa and a funnel cake. You won't regret it. read more

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Zoolights is pretty cool. For quality, I'm only giving it 3 stars - nice but not awe-inspiring. I'm adding one more star because this even is FREE! Yes, in Chicago, the land of high prices and higher taxes, this fun little event is completely free. Amazing. This light show will certainly help put you in the holiday mood. Walk around the zoo and check out all the different displays. Each are is a little different. They also do ice sculpture demonstrations in the center. I do like that they have a number of snack and drink carts and vendors set up. The beer garden was very poorly marked. And they said that they were serving a bunch of different breweries, but it sure didn't look like it to me. That needs to be improved. I would love to see some improved light shows too. they only had one 'dancing lights' area (presumably near the beer garden, but who knows), and it only played snippets of 6 or 7 songs on a loop. 5 minutes and done. Not cool. Unsurprisingly, this place is packed with kids running all over the place. How about an adults only night?? read more

Two years ago when I went for the first time, I was stunned.... Everything was so beautifully lit up, you could tell some very qualified people put lots of thought and care into it. Last year, there were less lights, but it wasn't bad. This year, it looks like when you take your leftovers after eating out and microwave them only to realize you burnt then and they're no good anymore- to soon it up: bad. I guess if it's sometimes first time going, it'll look nice, nothing spectacular, but nice. But for me, paying $8 for a cup of hot cocoa while looking at a completely half a**-ed light display in the freezing cold does not sound that appealing. I don't know what changed over the last three years or if they're just cheaping out, but there are houses with prettier lights in neighborhoods that people could look at. Definitely planning on giving another chance next year, but if it gets worse it stays the same, there won't be another! That being said, the actual zoo looks great and you can tell they put in time and effort you make sure it stays clean. You can still see lots of animals indoors, like apes and reptiles and snakes and some fish, and even though they're all sleeping, it is so nice to get to see them while warming up indoors from the cold, cold weather outside. The main cafeteria still served some foods at night and baked snacks and goodies. They have some drinks like spiced wine and spiked cocoa, and for the people that don't drink they have some amazing Peppermint hot chocolate and a couple other drinks. All in all, great experience, lacking in lights (they have less year after year- they didn't even put proper lights on the dancing trees this year!!) Good for kids and couples and first timers for sure! Definitely need to up their game for people who've been coming for years though! read more

We visited the Lincoln Park Zoo while on vacation in Chicago. My sister took us to ZooLights our first night in town and it was fantastic! What a treat for the city of Chicago to have this sponsored by ComEd and PNC Bank. The lighting displays are dazzling and I especially enjoyed the light show set to classic Christmas songs. Admission is free and there are snacks and hot drinks to buy. If you're going, try a weeknight, as it won't be nearly as crowded as on the weekends. I would recommend it to all Chicagoans and visitors alike. read more

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Realizing that this is Chicago's free zoo and the crowds on a weekend night when the weather is unseasonably mild for November, are going to be way beyond vigorously monstrous; a visit to zoolights is still worth the bother. The animals in residence are mostly out-and-about (albeit in their respective houses), the lights are as enchanting as they are festive, the music is a perfect accompaniment for the zoo, ice carvings are cool and the festive spiced cider warms the soul. That's a lot of festivity to keep one happily occupied until closing time at 9:30 p,m. One bit of sound advice if you're coming from the City is to Uber, Lyft, walk, bus or bike to the zoo. There's an $8.00 lot nearby, but I'm unsure what that 8 bucks includes and for how long. read more

Events like these can be hit or miss. But the cons really outweigh any benefit. One plus, it's free. Negatives - very crowded. Parking was almost impossible if you're arriving late. Traffic was a nightmare and it took us like an hour just to be able to go a mile to a nearby lot where we had to move some cones and force our way in to pay $16! Just park 2 miles away and walk in. It may be faster than trying to find a spot nearby. In the amount of time we spent on the highway, I could have walked from the loop to get to the zoo. I feel there weren't that many light displays and they weren't too impressive. We were able to walk through pretty quickly to see everything. read more

I believe the Lincoln park zoo is going to be renovated which it's in dear need of it. The attractions that I enjoyed the most were the ape house and reptile house. There was not much of animals and it was a night and cold so they were sleeping. In partícula for being zoo lights i didn't find them to have done a good job at it. In miami metro zoo it's like lights galore. What i would change is the fact that they need to really light up the place and renovate it a bit. Loved the Christmas music played in the park and the entrance is free of cost. read more

Lights sequences to your favorite holiday tunes, festive drinks and sweet treats: it's the most merry time of year! Is it crowded? You better believe it is. Save yourself the hassle and a few bucks and walk, uber, taxi, or transit to get here. Also, come for the lights, not the animal watching. Most animals are sleeping (or trying their darnedest to sleep.) Enjoy the lights and the excitement of the most festive time of year! read more

Zoolights - The most festive time of the year! - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really cool and fun way to check out the zoo and I never really imagined going to the zoo at night but it's actually a lot of fun. Here are some tips. Traffic is a nightmare especially on the weekends or a mild night. Parking is nearly impossible and if you find street parking your way too far from the entrance. Best advice I can give is to bundle up and go on a real cold weeknight. Another tip. Bring your own hot chocolate or coffee. The hot chocolate there is aweful! The light displays are really cool. Nothing mind blowing like I expected but it's spread through the zoo and really festive and fun. Many of the zoo exhibits are open which again I didn't expect with it being winter and night time. Overall I would like to go again as long as it's not when it's crowded. Plenty of parking if you go on a slow night and it cost me $25 for about 2 hours read more

Oh the excitement! My man and I went the weekend he was in town and had a blast! There was even an aardvark sleeping in a barrel! How appropriate! I have to say as I grow older I become more cynical of "Holiday" things, but the Zoo Lights definitely make me feel like a kid again. It was actually quite amazing as I have never been to Lincoln Park Zoo before. Parking wasn't awesome (especially since it was cold and raining). But all signs point to WORTH IT! read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I haven' been this year yet but go every year. It is so beautiful - the lights are amazing. If you are lucky enough to go on a snowy night, well, it's really almost too much beauty. Not only do you get to see the zoo, along the lakefront, lit up with beautiful lights, but you get to experience other things. Like a man doing ice sculptures. With a chainsaw. Hot cocoa and a nice walk. But one of my favorite parts of this experience is getting to see the animals at night. You normally only experience them in the daytime and the nocturnal animals can be quite different. It's such a great thing to do and I highly recommend everyone do it. Do it! Do it! Do it! read more

Zoolights - Zoo lights 2005 - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The light displays were good but multiple were not lit. Also the traffic and aweful parking situation was a great deterrent . Took 45 minutes to get into the lot & find a spot & then 25 minutes to exit, after paying $30. I will never go to Zoo Lights again. read more

I feel awful for these poor animals being bothered by droves of bafoons in awe over Christmas lights. Why is it they let people into the various animal houses? The only retreat these poor creatures have from display. Tonight I witnessed a chimpanzee in fetal position covering his head with his back to the window- he was in flight/panic position and was clearly depressed and scared. Meanwhile thousands of idiots shuffled through here with their screaming obnoxious children and double wides. LP Zoo staff: if you're reading this please let the animals be and close down the houses so they may rest for next year's festivities. It's really an abomination how sad the gorillas, chimpanzees and lionesses looked. Disrupting their sleep and eating patterns for this event is not necessary. read more

Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo is an AWESOME free event, one that Gregula and I make sure not to miss every year! Did I mention that it is FREE??? It is amazing how to zoo transforms itself into a holiday wonderland of lights, seems like every tree is covered in them. There are also lighted sculptures of animals and festive themed things such as snowmen and gingerbread boys and girls. If you get cold, there are many indoor exhibits that are open such as the Primate House, the Lion House where Santa is waiting to take a picture with all you good girls and boys and the Small Animal/Reptile House where you can have a seat and watch the old "Frosty the Snowman" Rankin Bass tv special on a big screen TV. There are also two gift shops (one in the Lion House, the other near the Sea Lion Pool) where you can shop for gifts for the animal lover in your life. Public transportation recommended because parking can get very hairy along Stockton Drive (if you don't want to pay for a spot on Cannon, yargh) and beware of cabs who will be happy to run you over :/. Oh and in 2006 we ran into Da Mayor in the gift shop, I should really take off a star for that but hey, it wasn't Zoo Lights' fault ;). read more

OMG Unity I couldn't agree more. Zoo Lights fully deserves it own listing because it is the most awesome event of the year at the LP Zoo. Some tips: 1) Try to get there early because the first 1000 people get these awesome 3-D glasses. It starts at 5pm, on a busy day (say, the day after Thanksgiving) they run out by 6pm. On a not too busy day (say a random Tuesday once its open for the whole week) they won't run out until almost 8pm. 2) They do have an open campfire where you can roast smores. That is SO awesome. 3) This is the MOST romantic free date ever. Plus, there are lost of dark corners to make out in. Just don't scar the kiddies for life. read more

Zoolights was a pretty disappointing attraction. There are colorful lights everywhere - not very tasteful lights, but I'm sure they are fun for small children. We went on a Friday night and it was packed! We didn't see a single animal that was awake and most of the zoo's animals were in winter off-site housing away anyway. It just really wasn't an attraction for adults, or for people who don't like crowds of people walking around aimlessly. I think it would be more fun to just walk around a park. read more

Free light shows throughout Winter! Really neat and they keep the animal houses open so you can warm yourselves up inside and see some animals. Sadly, most of them are sleeping when it gets dark and we probably irritate them by flashing pictures while they are sleeping. This should be a go-to place for tourists all year round, ESPECIALLY during winter (light shows, ice skating, and ice sculptures done right in front of you). I still go here yearly in the winter and have yet to get bored. If you are lucky, you can park on Stockton for free or one of the side streets a little further out. I've always managed to find parking on Stockton after circling a couple times because a car or two eventually leaves. Turn onto Stockton from Laselle to avoid traffic! read more

This place is cool to visit once, butbitnis overcrowded and not much to look at imo, just lights shaped as some animals or playing cards, nothing magnificent, but it is free. I may have had a poorer experience because I had stroller which made it difficult to navigate. It does put people in the holiday spirit so check it out if you can, enjoy. read more

We took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and braved the crowds last Tuesday night. Instead of attempting to navigate the traffic around LSD and Fullerton, we ubered it to the entrance. Despite the crowds, it was fine to walk around and see the lights without getting claustrophobic. There are stands selling popcorn, coffee, and hot chocolate throughout the park. I liked the life-size snow globes displaying characters from movies (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Star Wars) as well as the coordinated music and lights show towards the center of the zoo that integrates modern and classic Christmas tunes to the lights display. I can see how this is a great free way for a family to enjoy Christmas lights and music in the city rather than driving to the suburbs. Great way to walk off a large holiday dinner! read more

Zoo lights at the Lincoln Park are terrific. Just beware of the legalized robbery in front of the zoo lights! Imagine how wonderful it is - there is a path right in front of the zoo where people can park for free. But then once you come out of the zoo, your car is nowhere to be found, and you are very hungry, aren't you in some sort of panic? You then ask people around and make desperate phone calls, and finally with some tipped info you find that your car has been towed. You struggle to get to that secret location, make a hefty payment, and then you get your car back (with something else on the windshield). What a stressful night! Feel like robbery! If the city does that, it is legal. How does that work? Well, don't you see those small squares on the trees near the path that just appear white at night? Those are police order that says no parking/tow away zone for a long section of the path. Does the police order serve any public purpose beyond providing a legal basis to tow away your car? Nope. The path is an one-way one-lane road designed for parking on the two sides of the path. Nothing really changes with that no parking section, and people still park on both sides of the road as usual. But now the no parking section turns into an inviting trap, and if you fall in, the city can choose to tow away your car at will, legally! read more

Cold but INCREDIBLE! Which that pretty much describes everything in Chicago in my opinion. The lights were spectacular and being able to walk through the zoo seeing the animals and the lights is the way to do Lincoln Park Zoo! Hot Chocolate is a must of course, so make sure you pick some up from the vendors located in the park and stroll on over to the tiger while taking in all the breathtaking lights. Zoolights is not to be missed, so make sure you schedule this into your winter night! read more

Zoolights - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Timing is everything. I had never been to this zoo before. Everyone acts shocked when I say this but it is true. Or was. Zoo lights is one of those things I've been meaning to get to for a decade and has never happened: Holiday obligations take over, family demands overwhelm, work is at the very busiest until the new year. Take an evening, do something fun. As a family, as a couple or enjoy by yourself. The zoo is free but parking is a headache so please consider CTA, Uber or Lyft to get there. Eat before unless long lines for overpriced fast food is your thing. Dress warmly- all the layers. You are going to need a cotton shirt, a sweater or thermal over that, a fleece and then a parka. Layers of socks, walking shoes or boots, a hat and possibly layers of gloves too. If you are dressed comfortably and warm- you will enjoy what you see. Yes, It is cold but a lot of the fun is outside: Lumbering Polar Bear, happy swimming seals, big cats pacing the enclosure (I saw Lynxes grooming each other) and screaming children. So many screaming children. Time your visit. It is the holidays- lots of kids out of school and really amped up. Go after sunset so you can appreciate the lights but time it on a school night for less crowd. read more

Expect to see beautiful lights and amazing views of the city all the while the scent of animal poop with a base note of cat pee fills your nostrils. Your ears are treated to piercing Christmas music cranked up to 11. You can treat your taste buds to hot chocolate, cider, and beer. The paths are fairly crowded. Beware of little children everywhere. They like to abruptly stop and run into your knee. You will most likely end up walking around in circles due to the poor signage and the darkness required by the lights. Don't expect to take any good photos as you can see from the photo gallery. You will have to choose between a dark photo of the lights or a flash blow out photo of your family. The most entertaining attraction is the ice skating rink. It is small. They let only a few in at a time due to max capacity. All in all, smelling animal poop while seeing no animals is definitely an interesting experience. read more

Very enjoyable but very crowded. I met a couple here and we strolled the lights and then had some drinks at the open bar. The weather was exceptional when I went, but no snow. Would look beautiful under a light coverage of snow!! read more

I'd give this event zero stars if Yelp allowed it. On Saturday, December 17th I purchased tickets for a group to see the zoo lights. They use a 3rd party to sell tickets which is usually a red flag. EventBrite says all sales are final.. non refundable. However, they never sent me the tickets I purchased. We tried to go anyway hoping that if we showed an attendee my bank transaction, they'd be able to help us access the tickets or event. We waited for over an hour in the cold only to turned away and they weren't nice about it. There is no way to contact EB over the phone and they are not responding to my inquiries. LP Zoo refuses to assist stating it's out of their hands because EB is a 3rd party. My question is, why use a 3rd party for something so important and simple when there's no way to reach the company they use? Awful customer service. Saying it's our do your hands isn't good enough. If this isn't rectified, I will never use EventBrite again which will end a decade long tradition. Maybe last year was the last year I would see the Zoolights. read more